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Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many people have benefited from the minimum wage in Rochdale.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 April 2005

Reference

432 c1629W;432 c1624W; 217375

House

House of Commons

Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effects on Rochdale constituency of her policies and actions since 1997.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 April 2005

Reference

432 c1617W;432 c1613W; 217376

House

House of Commons

Dept for Education and Skills

Supplementary on plans to increase the take-up of vocational training in schools and colleges and on education maintenance allowance.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Education and Skills

Oral questions - 1st Supplementary

Status

Answered

Date

24 March 2005

Reference

432 c993-4

House

House of Commons

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Witney constituency, the effects on Rochdale of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 February 2005

For answer on

17 March 2005

Answered on

17 March 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Witney constituency, the effects on Rochdale of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [217366] Yvette Cooper: Along with other Government Departments, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to improving the lives of people across the whole of the UK. For example, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is determined that everyone should have the opportunity to have a decent home, and since 1997 we have reduced the number of non-decent homes nationally by 1 million. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister provides grant funding that benefits the Rochdale constituency through a number of programmes. For example, over the period 2001-06 Rochdale has been allocated £20.7 million of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund resources to help the local authority, in collaboration with the Local Strategic Partnership, improve services in the most deprived neighbourhoods in the area. More broadly, since 1997 we have been able to increase the total amount of Government grant given to local authorities by £22.6 billion. This is a 33 per cent. increase in real terms. Rochdale council has received an average annual increase in formula grant since 1997 of 5.3 per cent. The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics. gov.uk./.

Date

17 March 2005

Reference

432 c364-5W;432 c362-3W; 217366

House

House of Commons

Dept for Education and Skills

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will make a statement on the effects of each Sure Start programme in Rochdale; what research she has conducted on the effects of Sure Start programmes in Rochdale on (a) literacy, (b) speech and language development, (c) levels...

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Education and Skills

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 February 2005

For answer on

8 March 2005

Answered on

8 March 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if she will make a statement on the effects of each Sure Start programme in Rochdale; [217106] (2) what research she has conducted on the effects of Sure Start programmes in Rochdale on (a) literacy, (b) speech and language development, (c) levels of breast feeding, (d) smoking cessation and (e) post- natal depression; [217107] (3) what assessment she has made of levels of satisfaction of parents in Rochdale with the services provided by Sure Start programmes. [217108] Margaret Hodge: There are three Sure Start local programmes in Rochdale constituency; Castlemere, Deeplish and Newbold approved in 2000; Belfield, Hamer and Waddleworth approved in 2001; and Kirkholt, Turfhill and Wellfield approved in 2003. Between them the three programmes provide services to 2,300 young children living within their respective catchment areas. The programmes deliver a wide range of services to support local families including training in parenting skills, access to health services at the centres and outreach support to children and families in their home. The programmes' funding for the current and future years is as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Programme name Capital Revenue Approved 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Castle mere Deplish and 982,206 769,660 788,902 788,902 Newbold Belfield, Hamer and 684,417 753,375 772,209 772,209 Waddleworth Kirkholt, Turfhill and 256,760 645,000 661,125 661,125 Wellfield _________________________________________________________________________________________________. These programmes are developing into children's centres and will contribute towards achieving our goal of a children's centre in every community by 2010. The Department does not conduct research on the impact of individual Sure Start programmes. Instead, a comprehensive national level evaluation system is in place that looks at programmes across the board and will examine the effectiveness of Sure Start for children, families and communities over time. Programmes carry out their own local evaluation. The available data from these show that since opening, the Castlemere Deeplish and Newbold and Belfield Hamer and Waddleworth local programmes achieved a 20 per cent. increase in the number of children scoring above average levels in the speech and language measure assessment on children aged 2 years, and a reduction of 6 per cent. in the number of children scoring below the average levels. Since these two programmes were approved there has been on average an increase of 60 per cent. in the number of mothers breastfeeding. A user satisfaction survey is conducted by each programme after its opening and thereafter on a three- year cycle. Within the Castlemere, Deeplish and Newbold local programme area 95 per cent. of families responded that they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the programme's services in April 2003. In September 2003 the corresponding survey in the Belfield, Hamer and Waddleworth local programme area showed that 98 per cent. of families were "satisfied" or "very satisfied". The Kirkholt, Turfhill and Wellfield programme is due to report in September 2005.

Date

8 March 2005

Reference

431 c1778-9W;431 c1774-5W; 217106;217107;217108

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for surgery for patients in Rochdale was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 March 2005

Reference

431 c1572W;431 c1566W; 217370

House

House of Commons

Dept for Education and Skills

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of 18 to 22 year olds from Rochdale were studying at university (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. - Inc table and figures.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Education and Skills

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 February 2005

For answer on

3 March 2005

Answered on

3 March 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 18 to 22-year- olds from Rochdale were studying at university (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [217367] Dr. Howells: Participation rates for each parliamentary constituency are not calculated by the Department. The most recent information shows the proportion of 18-year-olds from Rochdale local education authority who obtained places on full-time higher education courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and this is shown in the table. Proportion of students aged 18 from Rochdale local education authority accepted through UCAS to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Academic year Percentage 1996-97 16.3 2003-04 18.0 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. In addition, HEFCE have recently published "Young participation in Higher Education", which shows the proportion of young people who enter higher education at age 18 or 19 by parliamentary constituency, although this only covers the years up to 2000. A discussion of the participation divisions between areas with high and low levels of participation, and trends (18-year-olds in 1994 to 18-year-olds in 2000) for constituencies is contained in the report (sections 2.12, 3.8 and 4.1). The figures indicate that the proportion of young people from Rochdale who entered higher education at age 18 or 19 was 24 per cent. in 1997 and 25 per cent. in 2000.

Date

3 March 2005

Reference

217367; 431 c1353-4W;431 c1347-8W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects on Rochdale of his Department's policies and actions since 1997. - Inc figures and ref to HO website.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

2 March 2005

Reference

431 c1207-10W; 217373

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the Rochdale constituency, the effect on Rochdale of his Department's policies and actions since 1997.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 February 2005

For answer on

1 March 2005

Answered on

1 March 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the Rochdale constituency, the effect on Rochdale of his Department's policies and actions since 1997. [217371] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government has put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Rochdale constituency. For example: In March 19971, there were 431 patients waiting more than 12 months for in-patient treatment and 2,283 waiting nine to 11 months. Latest figures show 1,202 waiting six to eight months and nobody waiting more than nine months. In March 19971, there were 3,587 patients waiting more than 13 weeks for out-patient treatment. Latest figures show 1,183 waiting more than 13 weeks. The latest published figures show that 94.9 per cent. of patients spend less than four hours in the accident and emergency department. In September 2002, the figure was 78.3 per cent. and in September 2003, the figure was 92.3 per cent. 99.8 per cent. of urgent referrals for suspected cancer were seen by a specialist within two weeks. A total of 811,000 has been provided from the cancer plan central capital allocation for a scanner, as part of the 50 extra scanners across England. This magnetic resonance imaging scanner will become operational for patients in summer 2005 at the Rochdale Infirmary and is expected to increase the annual number of scans from 7,800 to 11,000. A new mobile catheter laboratory funded by the New Opportunity Fund will be based at Rochdale Infirmary from March 2005. The laboratory will expand the facilities available at the cardiology unit enabling an additional 1,800 angiograms to be carried out in a full year. Work is commencing to convert a ward at Rochdale Infirmary to a 500,000 16-station renal dialysis unit which is due to open in May 2005. 1 Figures from 1997 are the sum of the figures for the preceding NHS trusts (Oldham NHS trust, Rochdale healthcare NHS trust, North Manchester healthcare NHS trust and Bury healthcare NHS trust) to their merger in 2002 to form the Pennine acute hospitals NHS trust.

Date

1 March 2005

Reference

217371; 431 c1078-9W;431 c1074-5W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average health expenditure per head of population in Rochdale constituency was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004. - Including figures.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

28 February 2005

Reference

217369; 431 c981-2W;431 c977-8W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Education and Skills

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will set out statistical information relating as closely as possible to the Rochdale constituency, with effects of her Department's actions and policies on Rochdale since 1997. - Including tables.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Education and Skills

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 February 2005

For answer on

28 February 2005

Answered on

28 February 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out statistical information relating as closely as possible to the Rochdale constituency, with effects of her Department's actions and policies on Rochdale since 1997. [217368] Mr. Stephen Twigg: The Rochdale constituency lies within Rochdale local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE and equivalents Achievement for pupils attending schools in Rochdale are given in the following tables. Key Stage 2 Achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Rochdale constituency _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997-2004 Rochdale--English1 54 67 13 Rochdale--Maths1 56 65 9 National Average--English2 63 78 15 National Average--Maths2 61 74 13 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Pupils attending schools in Rochdale constituency. 2 The average for all schools in England (including independent schools) GCSE and equivalents1 Achievement of 15-year-old pupils2 attending schools in the Rochdale constituency _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Percentage of 15-year-olds 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement gaining 1997-2004 Rochdale--5+A*-C 37.1 41.7 4.6 Rochdale--5+A*-G 81.1 86.2 5.1 National Average--5+A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 National Average--5+A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only. 2 As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year At national level, standards have improved across all key stages. The Primary and Key Stage 3 National Strategies, together with the measures we have taken to help schools in the toughest areas are continuing to deliver better results. Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's `In Your Area' website available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level. This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government office region. England figures are also provided. The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The In Your Area website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

Date

28 February 2005

Reference

217368; 431 c937-9W;431 c933-5W

House

House of Commons

Treasury

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects of his actions and policies on the constituency since 1997. - Inc figures and ref to ONS website.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Treasury

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

24 February 2005

Reference

217301; 431 c765-6W;431 c761-2W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the effects of his Department's policies to combat anti-social behaviour in Rochdale. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 February 2005

Reference

217372; 431 c719-20W;431 c715-6W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers in Rochdale there were (a) in 1997 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 February 2005

Reference

217374; 431 c738W;431 c734W

House

House of Commons

Treasury;Office for National Statistics

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the level of unemployment was in (a) Rochdale and (b) the North West in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004; and what percentage were (A) female and (B) male. - Inc table and text of letter from Len Cook of the Office for...

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Office for National Statistics

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 February 2005

For answer on

22 February 2005

Answered on

22 February 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in (a) Rochdale and (b) the North West in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2004; and what percentage were (A) female and (B) male. [217300] Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Len Cook to Ms Lorna Fitzsimons, dated 22 February 2005: As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (217300) The attached table gives estimates of the number and percentage of unemployed people who were resident in Rochdale and the North West, for the 12-month periods ending February 1997 and 2004. These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability. Unemployment among residents of Rochdale UA and the North West,12 months ending February 1997 and 2004 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 12 months ending Rochdale unitary authority1 North west region February Level Percent2 Level Percent2 1997 Total unemployed 7,000 100 246,000 100 Male 5,000 72.5 157,000 64.1 Female 2,000 27.5 88,000 35.9 2004 Total unemployed 6,000 100 155,000 100 Male 4,000 61.6 95,000 61.6 Female 2,000 38.4 59,000 38.4 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution. Source: ONS-Labour Force Survey

Date

22 February 2005

Reference

217300; 431 c479-80W;431 c475-6W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Work and Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Rochdale constituency received the winter fuel allowance in 2004-05; and what total amount of payments this represented.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Work and Pensions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

21 February 2005

Reference

431 c435W;431 c433W; 217377

House

House of Commons

Dept for Work and Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Rochdale constituency have received pension credit in each year since it started. - Inc table.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Work and Pensions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 February 2005

For answer on

21 February 2005

Answered on

21 February 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Rochdale constituency have received pension credit in each year since it started. [217378] Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table. Further information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library. Pension credit recipients, Rochdale, 2003-04 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Date Households Individuals December 2003 4,510 5.465 December 2004 5,485 6,710 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures relate to the end of the month. 3. Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60. 4. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory. 6. The figures for December 2004 are the latest available. Source: IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Date

21 February 2005

Reference

431 c426W; 217378

House

House of Commons

Dept for Education and Skills

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many pre-registration independent schools which did not comply fully with regulations 2e and 2d on the first visit complied on the second visit; and how many were non-compliant with regulations 2e and 2d, broken down by faith. - Inc...

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Education and Skills

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

20 January 2005

For answer on

21 February 2005

Answered on

21 February 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pre-registration independent schools which did not comply fully with regulations 2e and 2d on the first visit complied on the second visit; and how many were non-compliant with regulations 2e and 2d, broken down by faith. [210853] Mr. Stephen Twigg: The following table gives the figures requested for those schools that have already had two inspections after the new regulations came into force. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Regulation number/visit Number of schools not meeting the Faith (if any) Regulation 2(d) First 1 Christian Brethren 2 Evangelical Christian 16 Muslim 7 None 26 Total Second 0 Christian Brethren 2 Evangelical Christian 7 Muslim 3 None 12 Total 2(e) First 2 Christian Brethren 1 Evangelical Christian 16 Muslim 5 None 24 Total Second 1 Christian Brethren 1 Evangelical Christian 9 Muslim 3 None 14 Total _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Date

21 February 2005

Reference

210853; 431 c281-2W;431 c280W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Work and Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects of his Department's actions and policies since 1997 on Rochdale. - Inc table, figures and ref to information in Library.

Asked by

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Work and Pensions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 February 2005

For answer on

21 February 2005

Answered on

21 February 2005

Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects of his Department's actions and policies since 1997 on Rochdale. [217379] Jane Kennedy: We have undertaken a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent. Since 2001, the Government have significantly extended and improved civil rights for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, access to goods and services and transport. Disabled people in Rochdale will have benefited from these improvements in disability rights. Similarly, families with severely disabled 3 and 4-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable to walk will have benefited from the Government's decision to lower the minimum age entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance from April 2001, while older and less well off carers have gained extra help through the provisions within the National Carers Strategy. In 2002-03 we estimate there were around 10 million adults (22 per cent.) and 0.7 million children (5 per cent.) in Great Britain likely to be covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The figures can be broken down to national level which shows that 24 per cent. of adults and 5 per cent. of children in the North West are likely to be covered by the provisions of the DDA. Information on the numbers of customers in Rochdale who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) is in the table. Rochdale _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Operational year DLA/AA recipients 2001 6,900 2002 7,400 2003 7,700 2004 7,900 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: DWP Information Centre. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and are from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August each year. Through Jobcentre Plus, we are promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age. The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.5 million; there are 40,000 people in work in Rochdale. Our new deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over 50s and partners of unemployed people to move from benefit into work. Nationally over 1.2 million people have been helped into work by the new deals, with over 2,900 in Rochdale alone. Significant progress has been made in eradicating child poverty and the latest figures (for 2002-03) show that, in the UK, there were over half a million fewer children in relative low income than there were in 1996-97. Since 2001-02 incomes for lone parents in receipt of benefit have risen by more than prices or the cost of living. In April 2005 the child allowance rate in income support for a child up to 18-years-old will have been increased by 40 per cent. since 2001-02. Child rates in income support and jobseeker's allowance are also being increased above inflation in April 2005 in line with child tax credit upratings. All of this has benefited 3,600 families in Rochdale. We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country and our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners. The Government will be spending nearly £10 billion more in 2004-05 (in 2004-05 prices) on pensioners as a result of measures introduced since 1997, with around half going to the poorest third. Our reforms include the state second pension, which helps more future pensioners build up better pensions, especially carers. Pension credit, introduced from October 2003, provides a contribution to a guaranteed minimum income for those aged 60 and over and, for the first time, those over aged 65 and over may be rewarded for savings and income. As of December 2004, around 5,485 pensioners in Rochdale are receiving pension credit, with an average award of £44.24 per week. We know that older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2004-05) we have again made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household with someone aged 60 or over and £300 to those with someone aged 80 or over to help with their fuel bills. Additionally, for this year, eligible households with someone aged 70 or over will receive the one-off 70+ payment of £100 to help with living expenses including council tax bills. It is paid with the winter fuel payment. The constituency data on winter fuel payments and the additional 80+ annual payment is available in the Library. Since 1997 single pensioners and pensioner couples have seen a real terms increase in their basic state pension of 7 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively. Some 14,500 pensioners in Rochdale have benefited from this increase.

Date

21 February 2005

Reference

431 c430-2W;431 c411-2W; 217379

House

House of Commons

KASHMIR SOLIDARITY DAY

That this House congratulates the Kashmiri community on Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5th February and for all their tireless campaigning; notes that the Kashmir dispute dates back to partition in 1947; believes that it is a tragedy that the Kashmir dispute is still unresolved; supports the 1948 UN resolution calling...

Primary sponsor

Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour)

Type

Early day motions

Date

8 February 2005

Reference

676

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher